Controversy Surrounds SpaceX’s Expansion Plans in Boca Chica

On an August afternoon in south Texas, Bekah Hinojosa drove down Highway 4 towards Boca Chica Beach. The road was busy with large trucks and futuristic Cybertrucks passing by. Hinojosa, co-founder of the South Texas Environmental Justice Center, commented on the ongoing construction work. “SpaceX is changing Boca Chica,” she noted.

Starbase, a city established in 2025, is at the heart of these changes. This city, closely linked with Elon Musk’s SpaceX, is considering annexing 7,100 acres of land, including state and private property. The expansion aims to boost SpaceX’s workforce and support more rocket launches. In April 2025, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approved an increase in launch activities from the Boca Chica site. This includes up to 25 annual orbital launches and landings for Starship and Super Heavy vehicles. Musk envisions this as part of a plan to enable human travel to the moon and Mars.

The SpaceX complex includes launch pads, manufacturing, and testing facilities. During launches, it controls access to a nearby beach and nature reserve. According to Starbase documents, annexation could improve coordination with agencies like the Texas Department of Public Safety and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Services.

Environmental Concerns

Hinojosa parked on a property targeted for annexation, expressing worries about environmental impact. “We’re on pristine land,” she said. Activists and landowners, like 56-year-old Barbara Buckner, oppose the expansion. Buckner, whose grandmother survived the Holocaust, questions whether Starbase prioritizes residents or SpaceX. Currently, the mayor and commissioner of Starbase work for SpaceX.

Gerold Podraza, an 83-year-old landowner, is also against the annexation. He says it shows how wealth influences politics, often to the community’s detriment. NPR previously reported SpaceX violated the Clean Water Act. Such concerns, Hinojosa fears, could worsen with more launches. She has documented debris from launches and emphasizes the need for environmental caution.

Sofia Benavides, a local county commissioner, stated that law permits Starbase’s expansion. “There’s nothing we can do to stop it,” she said. By August 18, Starbase must hear from affected landowners to proceed. Public hearings follow, with a final vote in September. Hinojosa’s group is considering legal action to block the annexation. “SpaceX threatens the Rio Grande Valley,” she stated.